Apparatus for loading movable carriers.



No. 640,934. Patented Jan.9, I900. A. PAINTER.

APPARATUS FOR LOADING MOVABLE CARRIERS.

(Application filed Mar. 20, 1899.) No Model.) 2 Sheets$heet l.

TA: mums PETERS on,i'Ho'ruLnm.v wxsumaron. me.

No. 640,934. Patenie d Jan. 9, I900. A. PAINTER.

APPARATUS FOR LOADING MOVABLE CARRIERS.

' (Application filed- Mar. 20, 1899.; [No Model.) v 2 Sheets8heet 2.

1': uonms vrrzns 60., Puoruumu, WASHINGTON. D. Q

ARTHUR PAINTER, OF NELSON, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO ARCHIE MAINWAR- INC-JOHNSON, CF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR LOADING MOVABLE CARRIERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,934, dated January 9, 1900.

A umin filed March 20, 1899.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, ARTHUR PAINTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nelson, British Columbia, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Loading Movable Carriers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of apparatus shown in my United States Patent No. IO 613,595, of November 1, 1898, in whichan apparatus is illustrated comprising a loadingbucket adapted to travel back and forth in front of a feed-hopper and supply a traveling bucket carried by an endless cable. The loading-bucket travels forward with the traveling bucket as the latter arrives and passes the feed-hopper, and means are provided. for causing the loading-bucket to discharge its contents into the traveling bucket while it is moving with it. After the load is discharged the loading-bucket is automatically returned to its normal position under the feed-hopper. The apparatus embodying my present improvements operates in substantially the same way, but involves certain novel organizations of instrumentalities and certain improvements in the apparatus, which will be hereinafter pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 o showsafront elevation of so much of myimproved apparatus as is necessary to illustrate the novel features herein claimed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the manner in which the 3 5 mechanism which connects the traveling bucket with the loading-bucket may be arranged to yield and permit the traveling bucket to pass without taking up the loading-bucket should any accident occur which should cause undue strain and liability to breakage. Fig. 4 shows a modified way of accomplishing the same result as that accomplished by the mechanism shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing part of the mechanism for holding the loading-bucket in place under the supply-chute and for operating the devices which connect the traveling bucket with the loading-bucket, so that they may at times be made inoperative and allow the traveling bucket to pass without taking up the loading-bucket. Fi g. 6 is a detail View Serial No. 709,797. (No model.)

.in perspective of part of the mechanism for controlling the devices which connect the loading-bucket with the traveling bucket. Fig. 7 is a detail view of part of the devices for automatically operating the door of the lower supply-chute.

Figs. 1 and 2 are merely diagrams not showing the supporting-framework or other parts of the apparatus usually employed, as my invention does not comprehend any improvements in them.

The traveling bucket A is secured to a bail or hanger B, which in turn is attached by a laterally-projectin g arm or bracket and clip C to the endless rope or cable D. The loadingbucket E is suspended in a frame consisting of two vertically-arranged bars F, which are secured at their upper ends f to a carriage G. The bucket E is pivoted, by means of pivot- 7o studs at e, to the frame-bars F, and stops e on opposite sides of the bucket prevent it from moving too far upwardly and downwardly. On the bottom of the bucket is secured a rearwardlyprojecting inclined rod or arm H, which extends between two parallel upwardlyinclined rods I J. The upper rod I prevents the bucket from tilting forward when it is in its normal position beneath the loading-chute and also is so arranged as to permit it to tilt at the proper time when loading the bucket A. The rod J serves to tilt the loading-bucket E while moving forward with the bucket A. This operation will be clearly understood by an inspection of Fig. 1. The rod H moves between the bars I and J and is turned or dumped thereby while moving to the right. While moving to the left it is returned to its normalposition. Frame-barsKextend downwardly from the ends of the frame-bars F 0 and are provided with rearwardly-projecting brackets L, carrying trolleys M, which are arranged between guide-rails N 0. By this arrangement the frame of the loading-bucket is held in a vertical position while moving 5 back and forth, so that the loading-bucket will discharge into the traveling bucket Awith but little waste.

In order to prevent the traveling bucket A from swinging out of position under the load- 10o ing-bucket, I provide a skeleton frame P, consisting of parallel U-shaped bars p, secured to the frame-bars K and connected at their front and rear ends by rods 19 11 The carriage G consists of a frame g, having uprights g", to which are journaled trolley-wheels Q, that travel between parallel rails B. These rails are inclined downwardly from their left-hand ends q toward the right to the point q, and from the point q they are inclined upwardly and extend toward the right. when free to move and when at the left-hand end of the rails will tend to move toward the point q of the rails. In order to hold the carriage at the left-hand end of the rails or immediately below the supply-chute S, I provide a catch-frame T, which has a hooked end i, that engages a stop If. This catch-frame Tis pivoted to the carriage at and it has an arm i having a toothed end 25 engaging the cam U. This cam is attached to a rod V, which is arranged in horizontal bearings in the carriage and which has at its outer end a downwardly-proj ecting arm 12, arranged in the path of the clip 0, that projects from the cable D. A weighted arm V normally holds the arm '0 and the cam in the position shown by full lines in Fig. 1. \Vhen in this position, the toothed end of the arm 15 of the catch T lies in a recess 0 of the cam U and the toothed end 15 of the catch engages the stop .6, so that the carriage is held stationary under the loading-chute S. When the traveling bucket A comes along, the arm 0 strikes against the arm U and turns the cam so as to cause the cam-surface o to raise the arm t and thus disengage the catch from the stop t. The carriage is then free to move to the right and will descend on the inclined rails R and move forward with the bucket A, the armObearingagainstthearmv. Theloadingbucket and the traveling bucket A will move together for a time, and the loading-bucket will be turned and dumped by means of the rods I J. After a time the carriage ascends the upwardly-inclined portions of the rails R, and the arm 12 will be lifted out of the path of the arm 0. Then the carriage and the loading-bucket carried thereby will be returned to their normal positions under the chute S by means of a weight W and also by the inclines at the ends of the rails. The spring T, attached to the carriage and to the arm i tends to move the toothed end of the catch -T upwardly to cause it to engage the stop t. The toothed end tis inclined so that on the backward movement of the carriage it will pass the stop if and then spring back into position.

In order to prevent the carriage from running ahead of the bucket A, I provide a detent X, which is pivoted to the carriage at a; and rests at its opposite end on a stop 00. The arm 0 can pass by the detent X; but atter having passed by it the detent will fall,

and if the carriage tends to run ahead of the bucket A the detent will strike against the arm 0.

When thus mounted, the carriage When the traveling buckets are moving at a slow speed, the loading-bucket can be taken up by the cable Without any great jar; but when the speed is increased there would be some jar to the apparatus, and I have, therefore, so organized the apparatus that the loading-bucket will commence to move before the traveling bucket comes into direct engagement with the carriage by the contact of the arm 0 with the arm '0. This is accomplished by providing the toothed end of the catchframe T with a downwardly extending arm T which is provided with a laterally-extending arm T carrying an inclined laterallyprojecting arm T arranged in the path of the arm 0. The arrangement is such that when the arm 0 first arrives it strikes against the arm T and pulls down the catch-frame, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, thus disengaging the catch-frame from the stop 25. As the trolleys Q are arranged on inclined rails, when thus freed they will move to the right on the rails or in the same direction in which the bucket A travels, and by the time the arm 0 engages the arm 'v the bucket A and the carriage will be moving at nearly the same speed. This preliminary movement of the carriage, however, is not sufficient to cause the loading-bucket to dump its contents before the traveling bucket A gets into place to receive it. The rails R and the rods I and J may be properly arranged to cause the bucket to dump at the proper time, and the rails B may be so inclined as to regulate the speed at which the carriage G moves be fore it is locked to the traveling bucket A.

The chute S is arranged beneath a platform Y. It is open at its front end s, this opening being regulated by a door S, which has a closed front end and two side wings s. The chute is provided with a delivery-plate 8 The door S is pivoted at s to the chute, and it is provided with rollers 8 which rest on levers S pivoted at s to brackets S depending from the platform Y. The levers S are suspended from a U-shaped frame Y, which is attached to a hanger Y secured to a lever Y pivoted at y to a bracket y. The shorter end of the lever Y is providedwith a weight W, and its opposite end extends through guides Z. Normally the longer end of the lever is held up by means of a pivoted catch Z; but when the catch is withdrawn the weight of the material in the chute S causes the door S to swing on its pivot in the manner indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2 to open the chute and cause it to discharge its contents into the loading-bucket E. The door S is elevated, so as to close the chute by the weight W on the lever Y and it is held closed by the catch Z. In the act of raising the le ver the frame Y and levers S are also raised, the trolleys or rollers s traveling along the levers S and thus causing the operation of lifting the door to be performed with ease.

The contents of the chute S are discharged into the loading-bucket while the latter is loading-bucket.

stationary and awaiting the arrival of the traveling bucket A. In order to feed material into the chute S, I provide another feedchute 1, which is connected with a bin or source of supply 2. This chute 1 is opened and closed by means of a curved door 3, working in curved guides 3 and operated by a lever 4.

The door S of the chute S may be opened and closed automatically. For this purpose the catch Z is extended down to the carriage G. It is provided with an arm Z pivoted at Z to the lower end of the catch. The frame of the carriage is provided with an upright 9 having a laterally-projecting arm 9 which projects forwardly, as indicated in Fig. 2. A spring 33 is attached to the frame and to the catch and normally draws the catch inward or in such position as to cause it to engage with the lever Y The arm gr is shaped as indicated in Fig. 7.

Assuming that the loading bucket has 1 passed to the right and that the lever Y is held in such position as to close the door S, as indicated in Fig. 2, the charge of material in the chute S will be held until the return of the carriage G. When the carriage returns, the arm 9 strikes against the depending arm Z and moves the catch Z backward to the position shown bydotted lines in Fig. 2. This releases the lever Y and the weight of the material in the chute S causes the door thereof to open and discharge its contents into the As soon as the contents are discharged the weight IV on the lever Y causes the door of the chute S to be closed, the lever Y being raised to the position shown I by full lines in Figs. 2 and 3 and the catch Z being drawn forward by the spring 33. When the carriage commences to move to the right again, the catch Z will not be interfered with, because the pivoted arm Z rides alongthe rear end of the arm g and bends without causing the catch Z to be operated. It will thus be seen that the chute S may be made to open and close automatically.

In some cases, as where the ore is not very coarse and the capacity of the tramway is not very large, the chute S may be dispensed with, and the loading-bucket E may be filled directly from the chute 1.

I have described my invention in the best way now known to me and have shown an organization which is both simple and efficient; but the mechanism may be varied in many particulars. Thus the rail J may be omitted, as thebucket E may be so hung that it will by gravity dump at the proper time. This is especiallytrue when the bucket is filled with material. hen the bucket is only partially filled, it is best to have some positive means for dumping, and I therefore prefer to always use both the rods I and J. Instead of employing two rails R one may be used, and I may use one rail, with trolley-wheels on opposite sides thereof. Instead of employing two rails N and O, I may employ a single rail, with trolley-wheels on opposite sides thereof. In

fact, other means for guiding the lower end of the frame of the loading-bucket may be employed, and the frame P for holding the traveling bucket steady may be omitted or modified.

In order to provide against accident, I may arrange the mechanism so that the traveling bucket may pass Without taking up the loading-bucket. Sometimes some of the parts of the apparatus may break, and if the loadingbuoket should engage with the devices which are intended to connect it with the traveling bucket a breakage of the mechanism might occur.

In Fig. 3 the rod V is shown as having its arm 1) pivoted at its end a. It is held in place on its pivot by a pin a and is prevented from moving too far in one direction by means of stop devices a A rod V is pivoted at a to a hanger, which in turn is pivoted to the rod V at a. A spring a is connected to one end of the rod V and to the rod V and holds the rod V in its normal position. A stop a on the arm U prevents the rod V from moving downwardly too far. Normally when the clip 0 engages with the arm 1: the arm will not be moved out of the path of the clip, as the spring a is strong enough to prevent the arm from being moved by the traveling bucket under ordinary conditions, and therefore the traveling bucket and loading-bucket will proceed together; but if any accident has occurred which would cause undue strain to the mechanism the arm 1; will move on its pivot a and against the force of the spring a out of the path of the clip 0 without moving the rod V and will allow the clip 0 to pass, thus permitting the traveling bucket to pro ceed without moving the loading bucket. The same may be accomplished by devices shown in Fig. 4, where instead of employing the rod V with its connections, I may employ a metallic bar A twisted so as to act as a spring in two directions and secured at a to the rod V. Thisdevice will also act to permit the traveling bucket to pass if one of the wheels of the carriage should become dislodged. In that event the carriage would drop and the spring A would strike against the cable and would be raised in such manner that its end would come opposite the opening a", and then the arm 1; would be free to move on its pivot out of the way of the clip G. The rod V in Fig. 3 would act in a similar way. The same result may be accomplished in still another way. In Fig. 6 I have shown the arm 1; provided with a lug 2 A springs is attached to the cam U, and a stoppin a is secured to the cam to prevent the spring from moving too far in one direction. Then the arm 2; is turned, the lug .2 bears against the spring z and under ordinary circumstances will turn the cam; but if any accident has occurred undue strain is produced, and the spring a is caused to yield, so that I the arm Q) turns without moving the cam U.

In this construction of course the cam U should be loose on the rod V.

It is desirable to so arrange the apparatus that carriers not used for carrying ore, such as lumber-carriers and the like, may pass by the loading-bucket without moving it. In my apparatus 1 have provided for this contingency. For this purpose I make the stop t movable. If it were held stationary in the manner before described, the carriage would be released every time that a clip came in contact with the arm i as by depressing the frame T it would be released from the stop t,- but I prefer to form the stop 25 on the end of a long bar T ,which is pivoted at t to a bracket depending from the platform Y. The bar T is provided with a handle 15 or with a footpiece 29 by either of which the front end of the bar T and consequently the stop t, may be depressed. When thus depressed, it will cause the frame T to be turned on its pivot 15 and release the tooth 25 from the cam U. When this is done, a traveling bucket or carrier may pass by without moving the carriage G in the manner before described.

In order to provide against any liability of breakage, I preferably pivot the stop 25' at t and hold it in its normal position by means of a spring attached to an arm 75 of the bar T Of course the stop i may be made in one piece with the bar T and operate in the manner before described to depress the frame T; but by making it a yielding armit will give and move out of the path of the frame T, allowing the frame T and the carriage to which it is connected to move.

A slotted guide 75 attached to the platform Y, is for the purpose of giving steadiness to the bar T The stop t may be held in its normal elevated position by means of a spring i or by a weight 25 connected with the bar T As before described, the right-hand ends of the rails R are inclined upwardly, so that when the carriage G ascends the incline the arm 22 is raised out of the path of the clip, and then the carriage may be drawn back to its original position by means of the weight W and also by the inclines at the end of the rails. I may also employ an arm Z ,which is secured to the upper rail and which projects down into the path of the higher part of the frame T.

When the arm Z comes in contact with the frame T, it pushes it down, thereby raising the other end of the frame away from the cam U, allowing the arm V to turn out of the' path of the traveling carrier. By this arrangement the carriage can be released at any point without having to travel the incline at the end of the rails, as it is not always necessary for the carriage to travel as far at one time as at another. The arm Z may be made adjustable and placed at any suitable point on the rails. In Fig. 1 of the drawings the inclination at the right-hand end of the rails is shown quite close to the normal position of the loading-bucket; but of course these inclines may be arranged at a greater distance.

I wish it understood that the several forms of mechanism above described for allowing the traveling bucket to move past Without taking up the loading-bucket may be dispensed with, as the apparatus ordinarily works properly without them.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination of a traveling bucket, a loading-bucket, a frame in which it is suspended, a carriage to which the frame is secured, an inclined rail on which the carriage rests and down which it moves by gravity in its loading movement, a catch for normally holding the carriage stationary until the traveling bucket arrives, and devices operated by the traveling bucket to release the catch.

2. The combination of a traveling bucket,

a loading-bucket, a frame in which it is suspended, a carriage to which the frame is attached, an inclined rail on which the carriage is supported and down which it moves by gravity in its loading movement, a catch for holding the carriage stationary, and devices operated by the traveling bucket for releasing the catch.

3. The combination of a traveling bucket, a loading-bucket, a frame in which it is suspended, a carriage to which the frame is attached, an inclined rail on which the carriage is supported and down which it moves by gravity in its loading movement, a catchframe pivoted to the carriage, a stationary stop with which the catch engages, a cam engaging the catch-frame, and an arm attached to the cam, arranged in the path of the suspending devices of the carrying-bucket.

4. The combination of a traveling bucket, a loading-bucket, the frame in which it is suspended, a carriage to which the frame is at-' tached, an inclined rail supporting the carriage, and down which the latter descends by gravity while said loading-bucket is delivering its load'to said traveling bucket, a catch for holding the carriage stationary, devices operated by the traveling bucket for releasing the catch at the proper time, and a detent adapted to engage the suspending devices of the traveling bucket to prevent the carriage from running ahead of the traveling bucket.

5. The combination of a traveling bucket,

a pivoted loading-bucket, a frame in which the loading-bucket is pivoted, an arm projecting rearwardly from. the bucket, and a rod, I, for preventing the bucket from prematurely dumping.

6. The combination of a traveling bucket, a loading-bucket, a frame in which the loading-bucket is pivoted, an arm extending rear- Wardly from the bucket and an upwardlyinclined bar, J for positively tilting and dumping the loading-bucket.

7. The combination of a traveling bucket, a loading-bucket, a frame in which it is pivoted, an arm projecting rearwardly from the bucket, and upwardly-inclined rails, I and J, between which the arm projects and which cause the loadingbucket to dump at the proper time when moving forward, and to assume its upright position while moving backward.

8. The combination of a loading-bucket, a chute for supplying it, a door closing the chute, and having a front end and two side wings, pivoted levers arranged parallel with the wings, rollers on the wings resting on the levers, a frame to which the ends of the levers are attached, and an operating-lever for raising the frame.

9. The combination of a chute connected with a bin or source of supply, acurved door, 3, arranged inside the chute and curved guides into which curved edges of the door extend and in which they move, and a lever for operating this door.

10. The combination of a traveling bucket, a loading-bucket, a frame in which the loading-bucket is suspended, a carriage to which the frame is secured, an arm projecting from the frame adapted to be engaged by the suspending devices of the traveling bucket, and devices'acting on the arm adapted to yield and allow the traveling bucket to pass without moving the loading-bucket when subjected to extraordinary strain.

' 11. The combination of a traveling bucket, a loading-bucket, a frame in which the loading-bucket is suspended, a carriage to which the frame is secured, a horizontally-projectingarm secured to the carriage, a pivoted arm projecting downwardly therefrom, and spring controlled devices which normally hold the downwardly-projecting arm in position to engage with the suspending devices of the traveling bucket so that the traveling bucket and loading-bucket may move forward together, but which yield to allow the traveling bucket to pass when subjected to extraordinary strain.

12. The combination of a traveling bucket, a loading-bucket, means for releasing the suspended, a catch-frame carried by the carloading-bucket and allowing it to move before it is engaged by the traveling bucket, and means for then engaging the traveling bucket with the loadingbucket so that they shall move together.

13. The combination of a traveling bucket, a loading-bucket, a carriage from which the loading-bucket is suspended, a chute above the 10ading-bucket provided with a door, a lever to which the door is connected, a catch for supporting the lever to hold the door closed, a pivoted arm carried on the lower end of the catch, and an arm carried by the carriage adapted to engage the arm carried by the catch, the organization being such that as the carriage moves in one direction it acts on the catch to open the door, and when travcling in the opposite direction passes by withr out operating the catch.

14. The combination of a traveling bucket, a loading-bucket, a carriage from which. it is suspended, a catch-frame, carried by the carriage, and a movable stop with which the catch-frame engages.

15. The combination of a traveling bucket, a loading-bucket, a carriage from which. it is suspended, an arm carried by the carriage withwhich the traveling bucket engages, a catch-frame for holding this arm, a stop en gaging the catch-frame, and means for mov ing the stop so as to cause the catch-frame to be disengaged from the arm with which the traveling bucket en gages.

16. The combination of a traveling bucket, a loading-bucket, a carriage fromwhich it is 8o riage, and apivoted spring-controlled stop engaging with the catch-frame.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ARTHUR PAINTER.

Witnesses A. M. JOHNSON, JAs. OSHEA. 

